When performing a song that was composed by someone else there are a few different approaches.

One way is to replicate the song note for note as is often done with classical music. Another way is to completely change the feel and genre of the song. These two young Caribbean artists, Conkarah and Rosie Delmah (14 years old), have done just that.

Check out this reggae version of Adele’s very popular song “Hello”.

I dare you not to bob your head to the soulful beat.

The Music Junction offers piano and voice lessons at our Burbank and Hollywood locations. Call us today to learn more.

If you are considering signing your child up for music lessons this article featured on PBS.org is worth the read. “Dr. Robert A. Cutietta is the Dean of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. He is the author of “Raising Musical Kids” and a popular speaker whose areas of expertise include the middle-school learner, choral education, learning theories, and the psychology of music. Additionally, he is a highly regarded musician and educator with extensive knowledge about the full range of musical talent nationally as well as internationally.”

“Forcing a child to play an instrument rarely leads to the love of music making we want.”

(Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, author of “Raising Musical Kids”)

I have very mixed feelings about this statement. I was one of those children who’s parents “forced” them to play an instrument. In my family learning to play the piano was not optional for my siblings and me. Practicing the piano regularly was also not optional.

My parents made a deal with me during one of my many rants about wanting to quit. They said that if I could find 3 adults that had quit playing piano as a child and didn’t regret it then they would let me quit. I tried for years, asking every grown up I came across. Needless to say, my parents won. Every adult I spoke to said “I wish I would have kept going.” Not only did I develop my own love for the piano, but I also went on to study music in college, perform on multiple stages worldwide, and even become a piano teacher myself.

We’ve all heard of the cognitive and physical benefits of learning an instrument as a child. We’ve heard how students who study an instrument for an extended period of time have improved grades and test scores, increased creativity, and stronger balance in left/right brain function. Even so, it can be very difficult when our kids refuse to practice or argue to quit taking lessons. The competition is fierce with the internet, video games, sports, and even school work. As a teacher, I encourage parents to push through and continue through those phases (which is exactly what they are) in setting non-negotiable standards for their children. I do, however, recognize the need to maybe switch to another instrument or introduce new musical genres into the students repertoire. Music teachers and parents can work together as these different stages of growth arise for the young musician.

There are always ways to keep it fresh!

The Music Junction offers piano and voice lessons at our Burbank and Hollywood locations. Call us today to learn more.

We’ve all heard the phrase before “practice makes perfect“. It sounds nice but is it actually true? Sometimes, not entirely; not even perfect practice makes perfect.

Studies show that the most effective way to learn quickly is varied practice. I like to think of this as approaching a task from every angle. Practice the task repeatedly, yes, but add a small variation each time.

When a student is learning new musical material this approach is extremely helpful. Practicing the song from different starting points each time can strengthen the memorization and muscle memory much faster than simply repeating the same line over and over again.

Here’s a great article about how we can apply this skill in other areas of our lives.

Today NASA released recordings that were once considered top secret. It’s the sound of music heard by the Apollo 10 crew members way back in 1969 while orbiting earth. The sounds are still classified as unidentifiable but many theories abound. Could there actually be music in outer space? You decide…

If you missed Tori Kelly and James Bay’s performance at the Grammy’s, do yourself a favor and check it out. This was their first ever Grammy performance and it did not disappoint. Both Kelly and Bay were individually nominated in the best new artist category.

Best “new” artist is a fairly inaccurate term. These artists have been grooming their talents for many many years long before they are given the title of best new artist.

Tori Kelly built a massive YouTube following with 8 years of hard work, over a million followers. James Bay, a British singer/songwriter, caught the attention of a Republic Records A&R after a fan uploaded a video to YouTube of him performing at an open mic in London, and within a week he was signed to the label.

Every day thousands of hopeful young musicians are following in Kelly and Bays’ footsteps posting videos of themselves singing their hearts out. They are on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Periscope; using every platform possible in hopes that maybe one day they too can be considered the best new artist.

This year’s Grammy went to Meaghan Trainor who became most popular for her song “All about That Bass” but Bay and Kelly’s live performance definitely left its mark. We’re looking forward to great things from these two talented artists.

The Music Junction offers piano and voice lessons at our Burbank and Hollywood locations. Call us today to learn more.

It’s every singers’ worst nightmare. You’ve spent weeks and weeks preparing, invested loads of money and creative energy, and then some one else drops the ball. Whether it’s a dead microphone, an out of tune guitar, or your accompaniment track begins to skip around, every performer has had to face some form of unexpected difficulty live…. in front of an nature audience.

Two of the biggest names in popular music today, Adele and Justin Beiber, have been receiving criticism for their Grammy performances last night. They were both enduring sound difficulties during their performances. What a nerve wrecking experience that must have been for them.

Heres the beautiful part about these two professionals, they kept going and kept smiling. Sometimes that’s the best strategy. Mistakes will happen, some things are beyond our control no matter how prepared we may be. The show must go on and one bad performance should never define an artist. We have to get back up, punch a pillow if necessary, and go for it again. Both Justin and Adele handled their experience with class. There’s a good lesson there for us all.

The Music Junction offers piano and voice lessons at our Burbank and Hollywood locations. Call us today to learn more.

Joey Alexander. This is a name you may want to remember in years to come. 12 year old Joey was just featured as a jazz pianist on the 2016 Grammy Awards show. Indonesian born Joey has already performed in front of thousands worldwide, including presidents and dignitaries. He was even nominated for two Grammy awards.

Joey began playing piano at six years old, his parents consider his abilities a “gift from God”.

Here’s Joey playing at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

The Music Junction offers piano and voice lessons at our Burbank and Hollywood locations. Call us today to learn more.